Venice Family Clinic Art Walk and Auction Raises One Million Dollars

Art lovers and art collectors descended upon Google’s Headquarters in Venice, California Friday night for the 40th Annual Venice Family Clinic Art Walk & Auction VIP Preview. The event supports the Clinic’s mission to provide quality health care for people in need. Upon arrival, we saw a unique sculpture from a well-known artist whisked away for $10,000 as guests could purchase pieces for the final bid to take home on the spot. Another stone sculpture of an eye that we heard sits in a Kelly Wearstler designed hotel nearby was efficiently replaced for the next eager bidder.

Venice Family Clinic Art Preview at Google Los Angeles on May 18, 2019 in Venice, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Venice Family Clinic)

A light drizzle didn’t stop guests as they mingled over wine, signature cocktails, and a generous lengthy 10-foot charcuterie section while perusing the indoor/outdoor gallery space. We admired works of art from Shepard Fairey, Mike Miller x RETNA, Robert Rauschenberg, Gregory Siff, and monumental public artist Brad Howe. We were thrilled to see Howe’s pieces after touring his studio in Malibu and learning nothing made it after the fires.

Friday evening we spotted SNL’s Molly Shannon while other notable guests included Fritz Chesnut, Paul Lieberstein (The Office), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Simon Pegg, Camryn Manheim, Gary Baseman, Ivy Kagan Bierman, Rosson Crow, Laddie John Dill, Timo Fahler, Kim Fisher and Florian Morlat, Honor Fraser, John Geresi, Jane Glassman, Kellie and Jeff Hepper, Cathy Konrad, Kelly Lamb, Alice Lodge, Jamie Manné, Yassi Mazandi, Shulamit Nazarian, Soraya Nazarian, Jason Olive, Kristi Paulson, Krista Raine, Dr. Bill Resnick and Michael J. Stubbs, Ronnie Rubin, Leslie Rubinoff, Ry Rocklen, Azadeh Shladovsky, and Billie Weisman.

Flea attends Venice Family Clinic Art Walk & Auction at Google Los Angeles on May 19, 2019 in Venice, CA. (Photo by David Crotty/PMC)

On Saturday the Venice Art Walk highlighted the works of more than 200 artists in a contemporary silent art auction and entertained all ages with studio tours, live music, a beer and wine garden, food trucks, hands-on art workshops, a family fun zone and more.

Contemporary artist, Laura Owens, was celebrated as the 2019 Signature Artist and was featured in the silent art auction along with significant pieces from emerging, mid-career and established artists like Kelly Akashi, Charles Arnoldi, John Baldessari, Gary Baseman, Billy Al Bengston, Andrea Bowers, Matthew Brandt, Rosson Crow, Guy Dill, Laddie John Dill, Sam Durant, Timo Fahler, Amir H. Fallah, Kim Fisher, Sam Francis, FriendsWithYou, Piero Golia, Ramiro Gomez, Alexandra Grant, DJ Hall, KAWS, Toba Khedoori, Edward Kienholz, Kelly Lamb, Dash Manley, Jennifer Moon, Andy Moses, Laura Owens, Raymond Pettibon, Vanessa Prager, Fay Ray, Ry Rocklen, Ed Ruscha, Alison Saar, Analia Saban, The Haas Brothers, Austyn Weiner, and many more.

Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Venice Family Clinic

“For 40 years, the Venice Family Clinic Art Walk & Auction has been so much more than just a fundraising effort,” explains Elizabeth Benson Forer, CEO of Venice Family Clinic. “The Art Walk is an event for the community as well as its artists, many of whom have been contributing artwork to help support the Clinic since the beginning. It is the longstanding support from the community that makes it possible for us to provide quality health care to people who might otherwise have nowhere else to turn.”

Molly Shannon, Fritz Chesnut, and Jessica Trent attend Venice Family Clinic Art Preview at Google Los Angeles on May 18, 2019 in Venice, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Venice Family Clinic)

The Venice Family Clinic funds quality health care services for 27,000 people in need at the Clinic’s 12 locations and through street medicine teams across Los Angeles regardless of income, insurance or immigration status. In total, this year’s Art Walk raised more than $1,000,000 in support of the Clinic’s mission. Bravo!

VENICE, CALIFORNIA – MAY 18: A general view of atmosphere at Venice Family Clinic Art Preview at Google Los Angeles on May 18, 2019 in Venice, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Venice Family Clinic )

While admission to the silent auction and on-site activities are free, enthusiasts can meet the featured artists, see their work up-close and tour their studios by purchasing a Studio Tour ticket for $40. Tickets grant access to all of the studios located throughout Venice from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on May 19, along with a complimentary shuttle service to each and a limited edition 40th Annual Venice Family Clinic Art Walk & Auction t-shirt.